Our children's classes are enormously popular and we often have a waiting list. We teach children from the age of 6 in the Taekwon-Do classes, and from 4½ in our Pre-Taekwon-Do class. Please get in touch to see if we have space available. Children learn better when their parents or older siblings train too.

Read this article on  the best age for a child to start a martial art

'Rising Champs'  - Pre-Taekwon-Do

What is Pre-Taekwon-Do?
Our half hour Saturday morning ‘Rising Champs’ sessions at our Dojang are aimed to prepare younger children for Taekwon-do classes.
 
Why not just get them started on the syllabus straight away?
The 4 stages of the Sports Development Continuum are; foundation, participation, performance, and excellence. It is important that foundations are laid before participating in a particular sport. Evidence shows that without strong foundations of transferable skills, children are much more likely to drop out of sports participation in the long term which is why early specialisation is not a good idea. Additionally, early specialisation leads to a risk of over use injury, which may have long term repercussions.
 
What are the foundations?
Fundamental movement skills which are transferable across all sports. They develop balance, coordination, motor skills agility, confidence and a love of physical activity. 
 
What’s next?
For children who are a little older, our ‘Little Champions’ classes for ages 6 to 9 combine fundamental movement skills with Taekwon-Do specific participation as they begin working on the Taekwon-Do syllabus.
 
     "The critical, fundamental phase is often overlooked by coaches, teachers and parents, who focus on competition and winning rather than the acquisition of basic skills and fitness." Balyi, 2001